Quentin Pacher disappointed with second position - "The final climb suited me, and I had top legs today: this was my chance"

Quentin Pacher couldn't hold off Rigoberto Urán in the final thrilling sprint to claim the seventeenth stage of Vuelta a Espana. Despite his best efforts, he finished second on the climb to Monasterio de Tentudía.

The victory could have been his first professional victory, and that too in a grand tour. He was disappointed by the final outcome. "The final climb suited me, and I had top legs today: this was my chance. I wasn't far off, but unfortunately, there was one stronger today," said Pacher.

The rider explains the final moment when he realized his mistake of starting too early. "The final climb was a big fight, with a lot of acceleration and tempo changes. I knew I shouldn't go too early because I knew I would fall silent. The timing had to be perfect. I was able to hang on the whole time and at 200 meters I still believed in it. Then I made an effort to get back in front, but unfortunately, I died in Urán's wheel," concluded Pacher. He currently holds 43rd position in GC, 1 hour and 24 minutes behind overall leader Remco Evenepoel.